A demon bird flew low through the large and twisted trees, its red eyes scanning all around, then slowing down, flapping its wings, perching itself onto a branch. Below them, two figures moved, slowly and quietly through the brown haze the encompassed the early morning of the bayou sector. The air was so thick you could reach out and grab it. Husker adjusted the grip on the rifle in his paws, his eye moving from side to side, his eyes pulling it left to right. Angel behind him watched their backs, a map and compass in his bottom hands whilst his top hands carried an M1A1 Thompson.
"How much further?" Husk said in a hushed tone, stepped over an exposed root, "Not too far now. We should be coming up to the edge real soon." Angel replied, looking around. In the distance, the faint sound of voices could be heard through the trees. Husk quickly split off, darting to one side, Angel to the other, concealing themselves behind the large trees all around them. The voices got closer and amongst the haze, a light, swaying slightly. Husk raised the rifle he was holding to his shoulder, his eye staring down the center of the reticle, following the silhouettes of bats, their red eyes almost giving them away if not for the light.
Husk dropped down and looked to Angel, using hand signals to tell him to move up quietly and take them out. Angel nodded and put the strap of the Thompson over his head so it rested on his back, taking out two knives. Husk did the same, taking out a large bowie knife. The two bats had stopped on a beaten track, laughing and chuckling to each other, "Did you hear about Alastor? That coon has started sucking up to the Princess." One laughed, his French/Haitian accent really coming through, "Why would he do that? I'm guessing he's finally got a heart and is sucking up to her to get into her panties." The other replied.
"Maybe. But from what I heard, Alastor wants to overthrow Lucifer." Husk stepped onto the path, Angel soon following. Husk pointing to the bat on the left, Angel nodding and starting his low crawl towards him. "Alastor overthrowing Lucifer? Tough luck on that."
"Might be easier than you thought." The bats spun around, Angel leaping forward and tackling the bat on the left, Husk slapping the shotgun that was directed towards him out of the bats hand, then reaching up and digging his claws into the bats throat, grasping his windpipe, then plunging the 12 inch knife straight through the bats head, a loud crunch following. The bat wriggled and jerked for a moment, Husk ripping the bats throat out, its lifeless corpse falling back off the knife with a thud.
Husker looked down at Angel taking the knives out of the bats eyes, now standing up and putting them into the holsters on the spider's belt. "Right, we gonna follow the way they came?" Angel nodded, taking his Thompson off his back, both jogging their way down the track.
Husk knelt down and peaked his head over the berm in front of them, on the other side was a small dock with a boat house attached. Surrounding it were a few Bats, the flag of the Crimson Moon adorning one of the walls. Husk slid back and sat up, moving himself back to Angel, "Right. Four gooks from what I can see, might be a few more inside the boat house." Angel nodded and sat up, adjusting the uniform he was wearing, "Can't wait to get this off." Husk looks at him and tilts his head slightly, "When we get back I'll take it off ya' if you want. Stay here and spot me." Husk stepped around Angel, making his way around the curved bank, finding an area that he wouldn't be seen jumping down from.
Jumping down onto the muddy bank, ankle high in water, Husker looked around, holstering his rifle and taking out his knife, creeping through the reeds, trying to make as little noise as possible. Through the early morning haze, Husker's eyes shone, like an animal stalking his prey, that shine, that light that most predators had in their eyes when on the hunt. The water started to get a little deeper now as he approached the dock, moving under it he listened to the tapping of claws against the wood as a bat walked overhead. Husk looked through the boards up at his prey, he looked occupied, this would be an easy kill.
He spun the knife backwards into a downwards position, stepped out just enough to conceal himself. He listened to a moment longer, "I'm going to start up the engine, give me a minute." He heard from inside the boat house, a large smile coming across his face. Footsteps came from inside, then the sound of the boat rocking from side to side, then the revving and the start of the engine.
Within a split second, Husk had emerged, digging his claws into the docks wooden boards and pulled himself up, swinging the knife up and into the bats crotch, then yanking him forward and into the water, the engine hiding the splash. Husk dropped down and held the bat under the water, putting both boots onto its wings before putting the 12 inch blade straight through its face, the blade going through and through. Husk twisted the blade and yanked it out, stepping off the corpse before pushing it out into the water. "What do you mean the engine is fucked? It works fine!" A voice called from inside. Husk stepped back, holstering the knife before jumping up, his wings flapping a little to help him up before tucking firmly behind him again, Husk drawing the knife once more.
Angel watched from the position above the bank, Husker attacking another one of the bats, knocking the weapon he was holding out of his hand before socking the bat in the face, then sticking his claws through the Bats head. Angel nodded and squinted, through the haze Huskers ears looked like horns and his eyes shone, he looked like a yellow eyed devil. Angel watched as a bat emerged from the boat house, a rifle in hand, he watched as Husk tackled the bat, knocking the rifle from its claws before he drove the knife straight into the bat, the last one sprinting out of the boat house and standing in the doorway. Angel put his eye down to his sights and squeezed the trigger, letting off a burst, zipping up the bat and hitting some of the wall of the boat house. Husk looked back, then gave him the thumbs up.
Both Angel and Husk stepped into the boat house, a dinghy wooden boat sitting in the water. Angel looked at Husker, Husk simply smirking and walking over to the boat before stopping, looking at the table on his side of the building. White packets sitting stacked. He narrowed his gaze before running his claw down the centre of one and digging it into the package, then looking over the powder and sticking the claw into his mouth, his eyes widening, "Jesus Christ." Husk turned around to Angel, "This is some good shit." Angel nodded and stepped into the boat, sitting down and resting the Thompson in his lap, "That's why Val wants this done."
Husk nodded and stepped into the boat, sitting down the M16 in the base of the boat before turning and pulling the ignition cord on the engine before sitting down, "Doesn't surprise me." He said before twisting the handle, the boat taking off. Angel looked back at Husk as they moved through the water, Husk had their aura around him, something he hadn't felt, it was like he was at home, he seemed a lot more relaxed then he had when he was at the hotel or anywhere. "Hey Husk, how was the war for you?"
Husk snapped out of his daze and leaned back slightly, "It was like any other war, why?" Angel squinted and followed his example, crossing his legs and sitting his Thompson against the seat he was on, "Well from what I've heard from the fuckin' cretins down 'ere they all say it was a' shit show n' that they woulda' fought for the other si-"
Huskers eyes snapped to Angel, filled with fire, "Fucking cowards." He growled and sat up, "I relished every moment I was there killing those communist bastards, because I wasn't at home dealing with the shit I had to slog through before I enlisted." He shook his head, turning his shoulder towards Angel. Angel couldn't help but feel the change in the air, it was cold, filled with hatred and anger. Angel nodded and sat up, sensitive subject, maybe he'd bring it up later. "When I was in country I heard plenty of talk like that." Husk slightly turned himself over, "I had a Corporal under my command talking all that commie shit." Angel nodded and leaned forward, "Whatdaya' do to 'em?" Husk looked up, giving him a dead stare quickly reaching to his side and shoving the barrel of his 1911 into Angel's face, "Made an example." He put the pistol back into the holster on his hip, sitting down and leaning back, Angel hadn't quite recovered when Husk had sat down, his eyes were big but his pupils were the size of dimes.
Angel blinked a few times and sat forward, chuckling, "You was' a hardass weren't cha'?" Husk nodded slightly, "My men hated me in the beginning but they came around. I wanted to get them back alive but not everyone wanted to listen." Angel nodded and turned his head, lights coming through the spanish moss hanging from the trees, "I see light." Angel grabbed his Thompson and got low, Husk turned off the engine, letting the boat drift towards the shore, grabbing his M16. The boat gently moved through the water before stopping suddenly at the back, Husk rocking forward and Angel almost flying out of the boat.
Both stood and dismounted, climbing onto the bank and moving into the trees and bush. They stayed low, moving fast, getting their weapons up and ready just in case. They stopped behind a large fallen tree, they were close, so close in fact that Angel was able to look through one of the windows. Husk poked his ears up, listening for any voices or movement, nothing. He looked down and reached into his webbing, taking out a pocket watch, clicking it open, 11:23 am. He looked up and looked around, "Might be out." He stood and jumped over the fallen tree, lowered but still standing, his rifle at the ready he began to slowly walk towards the bridge that separated the shanty town from the main road out.
The bridge was made of old wooden planks and whatever else they could find, stepping onto it he felt like he was going to fall through it, Angel following close behind, his eight eyes looking around for any sign of movement, now they were in the kill zone, where the massacre would take place. Husk looked back at Angel, "You got the charges yeah?" Angel nodded, one of his lower hands reaching back and grabbing the bag. Husk nodded and kept moving forward towards the center cook house. It was a large tin building, looking more like a large shed you'd find in outback Australia.
Husk looked around, empty. He looked back to Angel then to the shed, "Alright go." He stood up, sprinting out from their position, his rifle in one hand as he ran towards the door, slowing down and putting the rifle to his shoulder as he got closer, Angel following his example. They moved to a red door that was on the corner, most likely connecting to an office. Angel moved to the side of the door, Husk standing in front of it. He reached out and grabbed the handle, then pushing it down and slowly pushing open the door, Angel moved inside, swinging his Thompson around, "Clear."
Husk stepped inside and closed the door, then moving to the door leading out into the shed itself, opening that and stepping through it, the smells of all kinds of chemicals hitting him right in his cat nose making him turn up his face and turn away, gagging, "Jesus this' fuckin' shit reeks!" Angel laughed as he strolled past Husker, patting him on the back, "You wouldn't stand a second in my room then babe." Husk looked up and shook his head, "Just get to plantin' those explosives. And be fuckin' careful." He grumbled.
The two broke off, moving around the shed. The same bags they'd seen back at the boat house stacked high in corners on pallets, tables were coated in the powder and chemicals and machines lay around, a few bathtubs filled with the liquid sat around as well as large gas tanks. Husk stripped the back of the double sided tape off and stuck it firmly to one of the gas tanks, then took out the blocky transmitter that came with it stuck it to the side, making sure the prongs were firmly in it, then flicked a switch on the transmitter and the detonator, holding the detonator close, a beep coming from the device, Husk switched it off, the light turning off, Husk moving to the next area. He looked over his shoulder to Angel, watching him doing the same. He looked so off, you wouldn't expect someone in his line of work to know how to handle explosives like this but then again, if Husker hadn't down him last night this would be a different story. He turned back, ripping off another bit of tape before sticking it to one of the bathtubs with a loud thunk.
At the far end of the shanty town was a church, a proper church. It was strange to see one in hell especially in a place like this. There was a nice opening where it looked like sermons were normally held. Sitting up high in the bell tower, Husker and Angel sat, Husker looking through the scope on his rifle and leaning against the white painted wall of the tower, his tail swishing idly. Angel sat across, his Thompson in his lap. His two lower hands sitting on it whilst his two upper ones held a book. Husk looked over, not moving his head, "Whatca' readin'?"
Angel looked up, coming half out of his daze before looking back down, "The bible." Husk narrowed his eyes and looked away from his sight, "How'd the fuck chu' get that? I thought they outright banned that." Angel chuckled and shook his head, "This is hell Huskie, anyone can get anything if they try hard enough." He flipped the page, focusing back on the pages. Husk nodded and looked back through his sight, waiting for lights in the distance or any sign of movement, "You religious?"
"Was." Angel replied dully, "What about you?" Husker stood in silence for a while, squeezing the handguard slightly, "I went to church for a while yes. That was until I left in '62. I didn't have time." Husk adjusted his footing and rolled his shoulders, "Then I transferred in '63 and yeah. Not enough time. The war happened and I didn't pray one day. Not even when we were being shelled on a hill with F-4's screaming overhead and gunfire all around I didn't pray. This wasn't God's place, this was man's, no use sucking up to him." Angel nodded and sat back, "Yeah I can see that." He chuckled slightly and sighed, "My brother, Arackniss, he, when we were alive, had a side gig at the local church. He was a weekend Pastor. That was until the war. He joined a year after me and became a medic. He saw some shit. But pop's pulled some strings and got him outta' there on a fouled up medical discharge. I never forgave him for it. But after the war he kept that little job. A few years after we'd died he thought it'd be a good idea to start up a little church."
Husk smirked and looked over, "How'd that go?" Angel shrugged, "Well it's still standing. That's after it's been rebuilt around 10 fuckin' times." Angel chuckled, Husk couldn't help but laugh as well. "He still works for Pops but he's also a Priest when he's not smashin' heads. I go there on the rare occasions when somethin's gettin' to me but… Recently I don't know. I'm thinking about going this weekend if ya' wanna join me." Angel looked up, Husk averting his gaze and sighing, looking down his sights, "If we get through this I'll go with you." Angel looked up and gave a small smile before looking down.
"I see movement beyond the bridge." Husk said, getting low, his eyes following lights through the foggy haze. Angel stuff the bible he had into his webbing, then crawling over with his Thompson, peeking through the wooden slits. "How many?" Angel whispered. "Maybe the entire town."
Husk twisted a knob on the side of his scope slightly, the zoom increasing a little bit. He watched as the bats moved across the bridge in a large group, a man in front looking like a priest of some kind. Husk watched him, he held a cross in the air and a book to his heart, he could hear the distant words, he was giving a service. Husk looked down and sighed, adjusting himself on the stock. The group slowly stepped forward towards the front of the church, their clawed feet clicking like high heels against the wood as they walked. Babies cried and some talked, repeating the priest's words. The priest moved his way up the steps of the church, then stopping and turning around, at this angle he couldn't see him but could see the large crowd.
He turned the knob on the side of his scope, zooming out so he could get a better picture, "My son's, daughters. We are gathered to remember' those, who were cut down' by Valentino's men in the streets of Pentagram city. Those men, who were trying' to earn a' living'. God may have sent us' here'. But we can at least, remember' his prayers, and continue to practice' his teachings." Husk looked to Angel, his eyes dropped somewhat. Husk reached over, hitting Angel in the shoulder, catching his attention, Husk simply shaking his head.
"Come my children. Viens prier avec moi." The doors below them opened and footsteps could be heard. Mostly women and children entered the church whilst the men went towards the large shed in the center. Husk reached into his webbing, grabbing the detonators that were taped together, Angel's eyes sunk into his head, "Can't we just leave'em be?" Husk shook his head, setting down his rifle and grabbing the bag that was on his hip, the sounds of grenades jingling around inside, "Angel. We have to." Husk handed Angel a grenade, "You still remember how to use one of those?" Angel nodded and three more then the bag, Husk nodded and shouldering his rifle, placing the detonator trigger side up, waiting till the men got closer.
With each step, Husk's heart thumped in his chest, he could hear the screams of jets, the screams of his men around him, the radio on his back, the sounds of gunfire, explosions, the whales of the NVA soldiers they were fighting, he could hear the screams of soldiers as they danced in the napalm. He let his hand drop, smacking the triggers.
Husk watched the shed explode into a giant ball of fire, debris flew in all directions, a piece of the tin wall splitting one of the bats straight up the middle. Husk watched the shockwave ripple the foundation of the shanty town like a wave. The shacks surrounding the shed being ripped apart, bodies sent flying in all directions and the sound was absolutely deafening. The shockwave shook the church down, another explosion quickly following, ripping pieces out of the church and causing the center of the town to collapse into the water. Husk stepped back, grabbing hold of something to stop himself from falling, Angel held onto the edge of the window as the tower shook, "Drop them now!" Husk held, Angel simply nodding, interlocking the pins before pulling all four, the latches pinging off and being dropped down into the church itself.
Four loud explosions followed, screams and shouts coming from below. Husk peaked down, letting loose with his M16, firing wildly into the crowd, Angel taking another two grenades with his lower hands, his upper hands holding onto his Thompson, firing wildly into the crowd, then dropping the grenades, two more explosions following. Husk looked down, smirking, "Right. Time-" The floor of the church began to collapse, bodies falling into the water, "Fuck!" Husk stood up, bashing away the slits in the bell down windows, Angel standing and grabbing the bag of grenades. Another explosion came from the center of the town, this time from one of the houses. A massive fire had spread from the center, more of the shacks were now on fire.
Smoke filled the air, it was almost unbreathable. Husk coughed and gagged as he bashed away to get out, finally being able to climb out, grabbing a panicked Angel. Climbing out, Husk immediately fell onto the roof, Angel holding onto him for dear life. Through the embers and black smoke, a raging inferno, almost looking like the sun, "Holy fuck!" Angel yelled as the church moved, the ground beginning to crack. Husk spun his head around as he heard the sound of the airboat coming up the water way. "Right come on!" He picked up Angel, breaking into a sprint, the church beginning to crash and crumble into the water.
Husk leapt from the edge of the roof towards the water, splashing down into it, Angel following close behind. He looked around in the murky water, watching as the large demon alligators snatched away the bodies, then disappearing. Husk turned around only to be met with one charging right at him. He screamed and darted to the side, the large beat snapping at him before continuing on to the feeding pool.
Husk swam to the top, then being yanked out of the water and onto his back, "Get us outta' here!" Angel yelled at the large Alligator demon, the airboat taking off. Husk huffed, then sitting up and looking at Angel, "When… When are we going?" Angel chuckled, sitting back, running his fingers through his hair.
I'd like to apologise for the lack of chapters, I've had a really hard time writing this chapter and I know it shows, but I don't know. This wasn't what I wanted but it's something. Next chapter will hopefully be a bit better and I can get back to writing normally. I apologise.